Three-dimensional structures of sheet material

ABSTRACT

A construction assembly in which a plurality of interconnected three-dimensional elements each has at least one wall and the elements are connected by loops or tongues of material of one element extending into windows of another element and held in place by pins of sheet material engaging through the loops and bearing upon the walls formed with the window from the side opposite that through which the loop was inserted.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] My present invention relates to three-dimensional structures ofsheet material which may be used as construction toys, to erectdisplays, for packaging materials and for miniature and full-sizeconstruction, to kits from which three-dimensional structures may becreated and to a linking system whereby three-dimensional structures beinterconnected or parts of a single three-dimensional structure may beconnected together.

[0002] While this invention may be described in connection with one ormore of the uses mentioned and, in particular, as a construction toy,the principals of the invention are applicable widely tothree-dimensional structures fabricated from sheet materials generallyand can be used in all applications of such materials and in allapplications in which three-dimensional structures can be erected fromsuch materials.

[0003] The materials with which the invention is intended to be used aresheet materials which have a certain degree of flexibility and can beprovided with bends or folds, although aspects of the invention can beused with sheet materials which are practically rigid and in whichcorners may be formed by providing film hinges or the like. The term“sheet material” is therefore intended to encompass both rigid andflexible materials to the extent that they are consistent with theapplications described herein. Paper, paperboard, cardboard, laminatedpapers, plastic sheet, laminates of various plastic and coated paper,paperboard and like materials are those which the invention isprincipally used.

[0004] When reference is made here to construction toys, packagingmaterials, displays and structures generally, it is by way of exampleonly and features described here, for example, as part of a constructiontoy, can be used for a display rack or case, for some other kind ofstructure, not necessarily in a miniature or flimsy form.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Sheet materials have been assembled into utilitarian structuressuch as boxes and even articles of furniture, have been folded, die cutand connected to other elements by gluing, stapling and even byinterlocking tabs, flanges or flaps with slits or slots inside any suchsheet material.

[0006] In addition, construction toys and the like are known which haveslots or slits opening at their edges and which are dimensioned to allowthe slits of one piece to be fitted into slits of another and thusmultiple pieces are assembled into relatively complex structures. Thethree-dimensional elements which are so formed can be flat orcylindrical and can be of rectangular, triangular or other polyhedralshapes. It is also known, for example, to thread one strip of sheetmaterial through a slit formed in another to join those sheet materialstrips in a particular relationship.

[0007] While the number of applications that the assembly of sheetmaterial into structures may have is countless and the ways in whichsheet materials have been joined is diverse, there remains a need for asimple system for creating three-dimensional effects from sheet materialand connecting three-dimensional articles which enables the assembly ina simple manner, is inexpensive and is versatile.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is, therefore, the principal object of the present inventionto provide a construction which satisfies the desiderata mentioned aboveand which can enable the formation of complex but stablethree-dimensional structures starting from sheet material and especiallysheet materials which are flexible, bendable and foldable without thedrawbacks of earlier systems.

[0009] More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide athree-dimensional structure which is of light weight, is easilyassembled, can have its parts made available in a convenient package andis of low cost.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a three-dimensionalstructure of improved versatility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] These objects and others which will become apparent hereinafterare attained, in accordance with the invention, utilizing a system forconnecting different elements or parts of the same element and wherein aloop formed on one element or part is inserted through a window formedin another element or part and is held in place by a pin such that allof the components of the structure, namely, the first element or part,the second element or part and the pin are composed of the same sheetmaterial and preferably separated from the same piece of material.

[0012] I have found that this is possible by providing the pin as astrip of the sheet material which is folded over and engaged in theaforementioned loop, by pressing the loop out from the sheet material ofthe first element after the latter has been inside with two parallelslits and by forming the window as a cutout in the sheet material.

[0013] The element formed with the lip may be folded or bent intothree-dimensional shapes from the sheet material and the opposite edgesof that element can be joined together, e.g. by interfitting slits. Thepin may be folded into a dihedral form along a score line promoting thefolding action and blanks of the sheet material may have two partsseparated therefrom along respective score lines.

[0014] The loop itself may be formed at a corner of a three-dimensionalshape folded from the sheet material and may represent a dihedron whereit passes the window.

[0015] The three-dimensional element coupled in this manner can befolded from flat blanks to form the three-dimensional shapes and may beinterfitted as in a construction toy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0016] The above and other objects, features, and advantages will becomemore readily apparent from the following description, reference beingmade to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a three-dimensionalelement fabricated from a sheet of material by bending it at score linesand gluing a flap thereof, the element being able to be interfitted withother elements which can be the same or different and which can havedihedral tongues fitting into windows of the element show;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a corner connection of twoelements similar to that of FIG. 1;

[0019]FIGS. 3 and 4 are views of pins which can be used for securing thethree-dimensional elements together;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank which can be used to produce anelement and pin in accordance with the invention;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a construction assemblyillustrating the principle of the invention;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating another construction according tothe invention in an assembly diagram;

[0023]FIG. 8 is a plan view showing yet another layout of constructionelements of the type shown in FIG. 6;

[0024]FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another constructionelement which can be assembled together with that of FIG. 1 or one ofthe other construction elements shown in other Figures; and

[0025]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a point-of-sale displaywhich can be fabricated as a construction assembly according to thisinvention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

[0026]FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional element 10 which is comprised offour walls 11, 12, 13, 14 which can be crenelated at the upper and loweredges, i.e. formed with slots 15 adapted to receive other structuralelements with such slots such that the slots of two elements caninterfit together. Such slotted construction toys are well known in theart. The three elements of the invention, unlike the rigid plasticslotted-edge elements known heretofore, can be fabricated entirely outof a flexible or semirigid material such as paper, paperboard orcardboard which can have a plastic coating, can be impregnated or coatedwith plastic or can be laminated to a plastic film. The constructionelement 10 can have one or more dihedral tongues 16, 17 which can beprovided at corners of the element or elsewhere and is positioned anddimensioned to fit into windows 18, 19 which can be formed in accordancewith wall panels of the element so that, as shown in FIG. 2, one of thetongues of one element 10 can fit into a window, e.g. the window 18 ofanother element 20 and the two can be held together by a “pin” formed bya strip of sheet material having at least one score or fold. The tongueand window assembly forms a triangular or rectangular channel receivingthe pin inside the window. The pin may also be a tube which originallyflat, can be expanded for insertion into the channel. The pin can beinserted flat or folded on one score to form an angle or on multiplescores to form a triangle or rectangle.

[0027] The pin 21 seen in FIG. 2 can be spread apart as shown at 22 inFIG. 3 or folded together as shown at 23 in FIG. 4. Thethree-dimensional element and the pin may be made available in the formof a die cut or stamped blank 25 (FIG. 5) which is scored at 26, 27 and28 to provide bend lines and is incised at 29 to allow the strip 30 tobe separated from the remainder of the blank and then folded along ascore line 31 to form one of the pins 21, 22, 23. The blank 25 is alsoincised at 32 and 33 to allow segments 34 and 35 to be pressed out of acorner region formed at the fold or score line 26 so that dihedraltongues 36 and 37 can be formed along that corner. The blank may also bescored at 38 and 39 to allow the pieces 40 and 41 to be pressed out toform windows, whereby dihedral tongues of a similar element can beinserted and held in place by a respective pin 21, 22 or 23.

[0028] As can be seen from FIG. 6, a rectangular configuration is notnecessary and FIG. 6 shows a triangular pattern formed by locking thesheet material at interengaging slots 50 and 51. Dihedral tongues 52 andwindows 53 are provided in the elements 54 and 55 shown in FIG. 6 andfolded pin 56 engages as tongue fitting through a window to lock themtogether.

[0029]FIG. 8 shows a pattern which can be made with triangular elementsof this type both as a load-bearing structure and as a toy or the like.In FIG. 8, five triangular elements 60 are locked together with pins 61where the tongues fit through the windows to provide a pentagonal centerportion 62. In the embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 8, the elements are fittedtogether after bending from the platform, by interengaging slots whereasin FIG. 1 and for the blank of FIG. 5, flaps 19 are provided and can beglued to an opposing wall element to retain the three-dimensional shape.

[0030]FIG. 7 shows a rectangular assembly of different proportions andone wherein the tongue 70 of element 71 is not a dihedral but rather isa rectangular member which is received in the opening 72 of element 73so that a folded pin 74 can be inserted to retain the parts together.

[0031] A cylindrical element (FIG. 9) can also be bent from the flatblank and can have a flap 81 which is glued at 82 to the opposite end ofthe member forming cylinder 80. The latter can have windows 83 receivingthe tongues 70 or 16 for example of other elements and which is thensecured by a folded or flat pin. Where the tongue is rounded and thewindow is in a cylinder, they form an ovoid channel receiving the pin.

[0032]FIG. 10 shows that the three-dimensional elements 90 and 91 may besimulated cartons for a product, the cartons being joined by a folded orflat pin as has been described in connection with FIG. 2 to form, forexample, a point-of-sale display for the particular brand of the productintended to be contained therein.

I claim:
 1. A construction assembly comprising at least one three-dimensional element connected to at least one other element, said elements together having at least one wall and at least one corner, one of said elements having a dihedral tongue formed at the said corner thereof, another of said elements having a window receiving said tongue and formed in the wall or in the corner of said other element, and a pin fitting into said dihedral tongue within said other element to secure said elements together.
 2. The construction assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said elements are composed of sheet material, one of said elements having at least two of said walls and one corner and the other element having at least one of said walls.
 3. The construction assembly defined in claim 2 wherein two of said walls are interengaged at slots formed in said two of said walls.
 4. The construction assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said window has a generally rectangular configuration.
 5. The construction assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said pin is a strip of sheet material having at least one fold.
 6. The construction assembly defined in claim 4 wherein at least one of said walls is formed with a respective said window spaced inwardly of corners adjoining said at least one of said walls.
 7. The construction assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said window is formed at one of said corners which does not have a respective dihedral tongue.
 8. The construction assembly defined in claim 4 wherein at least one of said elements has four walls and four corners interconnecting said walls of each element.
 9. The construction assembly defined in claim 4 wherein the assembly is comprised of at least three interconnected elements wherein each of said elements has at least one said window and at least one said tongue at a corner thereof.
 10. The construction assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said material is a rigid material.
 11. The construction assembly defined in claim 4 wherein each of said elements has at least two of said tongues and at least two of said windows.
 12. The construction assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said elements are die cut blanks of a web material folded and erected into hollow structures, said pin being cut from said web material.
 13. The construction assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said material is a paper, paper board, cardboard of plastic coated web.
 14. The construction assembly defined in claim 4 wherein said elements are folded from die cut blanks into polyhedral columnar structures, said structures having slits formed along edges thereof to permit interconnection of said elements with other elements of sheet material.
 15. The construction assembly defined in claim 2 as a package, construction toy, exhibit, display, playhouse, trellis, fence, screen, partition, or modular structure.
 16. A construction kit comprising a plurality of die cut blanks of a web material adapted to be folded and erected into three-dimensional elements each comprising at least three walls and at least three corners, each of said elements having at least one dihedral tongue formed at a said corner thereof and at least one window dimensioned to receive a said tongue and formed in the wall or in the corner of the respective element, and a pin cut from said web material and scored so as to be foldable to fit into a respective said dihedral tongue upon passage thereof through a respective one of said windows to secure said elements together.
 17. The construction kit defined in claim 16 wherein said blanks are interconnected by pieces of said web material from which said blanks can be separated by a user.
 18. A three-dimensional structure comprising at least one element formed of a flexible sheet material and formed with at least one loop delimited between a pair of spaced-apart slits in said sheet material and extending from one side of a sheet material through a window therein to project on an opposite side of the sheet material provided with said window, and a pin extending transversely through said loop on said opposite side.
 19. The three-dimensional structure defined in claim 18 wherein said window is formed in said at least one element.
 20. The three-dimensional structure defined in claim 18 wherein said window is formed in another element separate from said at least one element.
 21. The three-dimensional structure defined in claim 20 wherein both of said elements are separated from a single piece of die-cut sheet material.
 22. The three-dimensional structure defined in claim 21 wherein said pin is a folded strip of said sheet material separated from said piece.
 23. The three-dimensional structure defined in claim 18 wherein said pin is a strip of sheet material.
 24. The three-dimensional structure defined in claim 18 wherein said element is bent from a single piece of sheet material and has opposite edges interconnected with one another.
 25. The three-dimensional structure defined in claim 24 wherein said edges are formed with slits enabling said edges to engage in one another. 